Illinois Sports Betting Top Sites for Betting

Top Online Betting Sites Available in Illinois

Here are seven of the top IL sports betting sites located outside the Prairie State that still welcome local players:

• BetUS — Best Overall Sportsbook for Illinois
• MyBookie — Best for VIP Betting
• BetOnline — Best for Live Betting
• Bovada — Top IL NCAA Sports Betting Site
• SportsBetting.ag — Best for Early Lines
• Everygame — Best for Payment Options
• BetNow — Best Sportsbook Rebate Program

1

Best Overall Sportsbook for Illinois: BetUS

Our Rating

5.0/5 stars.

If you’re looking to bet in Illinois, BetUS is our top recommendation. This sportsbook offers extensive betting lines on major teams like the Bulls and White Sox and college sports teams like the Huskies and Wildcats. BetUS is the place for sports betting tips and analysis via BetUS TV and its Locker Room blog. See why bettors are backing the Cubs for the World Series or the Chicago Fire to win the MLS Cup. New BetUS players get 125% matched on their first three deposits up to $3,125. Note that there’s a $100 minimum deposit required to trigger the deal.

125% up to $2,625

• Three decades of experience
• Big welcome bonus worth up to $2,625

Visit Site Read Review

2

Best for VIP Betting: MyBookie

Our Rating

4.2/5 stars.

If you’re one of the thousands of IL high rollers, then MyBookie VIP+ is the loyalty program for you. Get 24/7 VIP support, exclusive perks, monthly cashback, higher bet limits, and more deposit options. The MyBookie VIP+ program is by invitation only, but new players can get a head start by maximizing their sports welcome bonus. You get 50% matched up to $1000 on your first deposit, plus a free $10 casino chip. MyBookie also recently upgraded its sportsbook, which now runs ultra-efficiently on mobile and desktop. Go big on golf, tennis, and UFC betting with dime lines as standard.

50% up to $1,000

• Comprehensive sportsbook covering major sports, niche leagues, entertainment, and politics.
• Immersive games like blackjack and roulette, rivaling competitors like Bovada.

Visit Site Read Review

3

Best for Live Betting: BetOnline

Our Rating

4.5/5 stars.

BetOnline’s live betting lobby is unrivaled in the online sportsbook industry. The site is ultra-responsive and designed for quick-time bets. You can instantly jump on fresh odds and form parlay bets without problems. The bet slip features Teaser and If Bet tabs that let you combine two or more selections from the same sport and maximize your chances of winning. You can also click the Multi-View tab and add four live games to your screen at once. Sign up to BetOnline to trigger a 50% sports welcome bonus of up to $1,000. Apply the promo code BET1000 and deposit at least $55.

50% up to $250

• Prop builder and same-game parlay feature offer personalized bet creation.
• Extensive online gaming library with over 1,110 slots titles.

Visit Site Read Review

4

Top IL NCAA Sports Betting Site: Bovada

Our Rating

4.9/5 stars.

Bovada is the king of NCAA sports betting. Illinois doesn’t allow college sports betting across state-regulated sportsbooks. This decision means that offshore sites like Bovada are your best option. Get hundreds of lines year-round on college football and basketball games. Follow NCAA I teams like the Huskies, Fighting Illini, and Illinois State, or go deeper with NCAA II bets and minor league teams. Join Bovada today and get a 50% welcome bonus up to $250. This deal is perfect for low-risk players due to its ultra-low 5x wagering requirement and $20 minimum deposit.

100% up to $1,000

• Wide-ranging sportsbook and live betting platform
• Top-notch poker room with numerous tournaments

Visit Site Read Review

5

Best for Early Lines: SportsBetting.ag

Our Rating

4.1/5 stars.

SportsBetting.ag goes big on offering bet lines way before anyone else. The site’s recent upgrade allows players to access multiple lines, sometimes weeks in advance. This pledge means SportsBetting.ag is the ideal location for totals bettors on the NBA and NFL. The site also makes creating your own bets easy. Access the Props Builder, Sane Day Parlays, and Mega Parlays sections via the sidebar and craft your dream wager. The site also uses vast data software to help generate high-odds parlays for you. New players at SportsBetting.ag get 100% matched up to $500 on their first two deposits when using the promo code DOUBLEUP.

50% up to $250

• Competitive odds, especially on popular sports, giving bettors strong value on their wagers.
• Wide range of betting markets, covering more than 100 sports and niche options like esports, politics, and entertainment.

Visit Site Read Review

6

Best for Payment Options: Everygame

Our Rating

4.7/5 stars.

From credit cards to crypto to e-wallets, Everygame has an industry-leading range of quality payment options. There are no deposit transaction costs, and crypto withdrawals are lightning-quick. The sportsbook itself is fully equipped for fast-paced players. There’s a slick live betting lobby with easy links to in-play games. You can use the Hottest Bets tab to make quick wagers. Everygame players get a 50% welcome offer of up to $200 with an 8x turnover. Use WELCOME200 when completing your initial deposit.

100% up to $500

• Diverse gaming options catering to various player preferences.
• Generous bonuses and low minimum deposits.

Visit Site Read Review

7

Best Sportsbook Rebate Program: BetNow

Our Rating

4.3/5 stars.

BetNow’s Rebate Program is the best in the business. Bettors get a weekly 2% reimbursement on all sportsbook losses and a 10% horse rebate. BetNow is also the home of betting contests. Chase big wins in the $25,000 weekly MLB Grand Slam Contest. Win $10,000 when handicapping in the NFL King of the Hill Contest, or chase $1,000,000 during March Madness. Join for a 150% welcome offer up to $225 when depositing with MoneyGram, Zelle, or bank card. Just select the BN150 promo code. You can also get 20% extra when you deposit again.

150% up to $225

• Good welcome bonus promotion of up to 200%
• Access to your favorite sports betting markets

Visit Site Read Review

Compare the Best Illinois Online Sportsbooks

Casinos
Bonus	125% up to $2,625	50% up to $1,000	50% up to $250	100% up to $1,000	50% up to $250	100% up to $500	150% up to $225
Number of Deposit Methods	7	7	22	10	22	8	6
Number of Withdrawal Methods	7	11	20	9	20	5	5
Live Betting	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Horse Racing	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Read Review	Full Review	Full Review	Full Review	Full Review	Full Review	Full Review	Full Review
Sign Up	Play Now	Play Now	Play Now	Play Now	Play Now	Play Now	Play Now

How We Choose the Best Illinois Sportsbooks

Our expert reviewers carefully review each sportsbook before recommending a betting site for Illinois. A big part of this process is ensuring sites are secure, safe, and work on mobile.

Availability in Illinois

We look for sites that are available in the Prairie State. Sites must accept users anywhere in the state, whether you’re betting in a bar in downtown Chicago or hiking through Shawnee National Forest.

Illinois Sports Coverage

We champion sites like BetUS that cover the small teams in Illinois as much as the big ones. Standard sportsbooks offer odds on the White Sox, Cubs, and Bulls. Only the best cover minor league teams like the Bloomington Bison and Chicago Wolves or college teams like the Northwestern Wildcats.

Safety and Security

High-level security is a must. We check sites for TLC encryption and 256-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology. Sportsbooks must also display their player safety policies and operate anti-fraud and money-laundering systems.

Bonuses and Promotions

We don’t just tell you about the available Illinois sportsbook promotions. We assess whether they’re worth your time. For example, Bovada gives new players a 50% bonus of up to $250 and plenty of promos for existing customers.

Customer Support

We champion sites offering two or more of the following customer support options: live chat, 24/7 phone line, email, postal address, or social media. We also test each site’s customer service operators to ensure they are helpful to players.

Payout Experience

We assess sportsbooks to see if their payout speeds meet our requirements. We also check their withdrawal processes for bank transfers, crypto, checks, etc., to ensure they’re secure.

Is Sports Gambling Legal in Illinois?

The Illinois Sports Wagering Act (230 ILCS 45) passed June 28, 2019. It guarantees that betting on sports in Illinois is legal, both online and in-person, at retail sportsbooks. As part of the process, Illinois repealed its classification of gambling as an illegal activity. The Illinois Gaming Board regulates the industry.

You can also use offshore sportsbooks to bet on sports and lines that aren’t available on state-regulated sites.

You can also bet on horse racing in Illinois and gamble at one of the state’s six casinos or 10 riverboat casinos.

Illinois imposes a 15% gross revenue tax on all sports betting operations. However, that could rise to as high as 40% for the biggest operators. Residents must declare gambling winnings as income.

Illinois Sports Betting Timeline

Betting on Illinois Sports Teams

Here are the major sports teams in Illinois. You can bet on all these teams, as well as college sports teams that offshore sportsbooks provide odds for, too:

Popular Sports Betting Events in Illinois

Illinois is renowned for its baseball, basketball, and football teams. There are also other major sports events to look out for each year:

White Sox –– The Twins

The rivalry between the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins goes back decades. They play in the AL Central division and face each other many times each season. You can bet on White Sox games throughout the MLB season at BetUS.

Illinois 300 and Grant Park 165

NASCAR goes big in Illinois. The Illinois 300 runs at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Illinois, during the NASCAR Cup Series. A few weeks later, Chicago’s Street Circuit hosts the Grant Park 165 each year. Follow both races when you bet on NASCAR at BetNow.

Illinois Derby

Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, Illinois, hosts the $200,000 Illinois Derby each April. The race was relaunched in 2024 as a prep race for the Preakness Stakes. Bettors can follow all the action at top racebooks like Bovada.

Chicago Marathon

The Chicago Marathon is one of the world’s top marathon courses and runs every September. Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum set the marathon world record of 2:00:35 at the Chicago Marathon in 2023. You can bet on athletics from across the state at Everygame.

Retail Sports Betting in Illinois

Illinois legalized retail sports betting in 2019, and there are plenty of places to bet in-person across the state. What’s more, Illinois has a thriving riverboat casino industry offering sports betting. Here are the top seven sportsbooks in Illinois.

How To Bet Online in Illinois

If you’re looking to begin your Illinois sports betting journey, it’s easy to get started. We’ll cover the various betting options available to Illinois bettors, from in-state to offshore sportsbooks and retail betting.

Here are the steps you need to take:

Responsible Gambling in Illinois

We encourage you to gamble responsibly and consider online betting as a form of entertainment, not a source of income. Set loss limits and time limits, and don’t bet more than you’re comfortable losing.

Here are some resources to help you, or someone you care about, gamble responsibly and get help:

Illinois Responsible Gambling Resources

Sports betting in Illinois is a fun way to enjoy a game and potentially win some money. It shouldn’t be treated as income unless you are a serious pro. The Sports Geek advises all players to gamble responsibly and seek help from these IL resources if they’re struggling:

Latest IL Sports Betting News

Click below to check out The Sports Geek’s latest news, tips, and sports betting strategies.

Casino

What is the Legal Gambling Age in Illinois For Online Casinos?

Read more

Illinois Sports Betting — Key Takeaways

Illinois sports betting is thriving thanks to all the different ways to wager. Bettors in Illinois can bet at regulated and offshore sportsbooks, retail casinos, and riverboats. You can watch and bet in-play with friends.

Recent changes to Illinois’ college betting laws mean offshore sites are now the best way for players to broaden their bet choices. You can do everything from betting on the White Sox and Bulls to wagering on NCAA games at sites like BetUS and Bovada.

You’re ready to bet!

About the Author

Joe Short

Content Writer

Joe is a UK-based journalist working primarily in sports. He splits his time between Belfast and Liverpool, and has a passion for horse racing. He is also an experienced gaming writer and always has one eye on his favorite baseball team, Baltimore Orioles. His dream is to attend the Kentucky Derby one year and pick a winner at Churchill Downs.

Click to Contact Joe

More From Joe Short